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M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle - Heckler & Koch

Marine Corps Systems Command is purchasing M27 IARs from a single source vendor based on feedback from Marines. The Corps plans to field the M27 more broadly in infantry units as early as 2018.

The M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle was adopted by the Marine Corps in 2011 and replaced the M249 light Machinegun as the “Squad Automatic Weapon”. The M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR) is a lightweight, aircooled, pusher rod gas operated, magazine fed, shoulder fired weapon. It operates in semi-automatic and automatic modes of fire. This allows the user to engage with precision, and switch to suppressive fire, or vice versa, as needed.

Compared to the M249, the reduction in weight allows the user to be more agile in today’s aggressive fight. The IAR’s pusher rod gas system directs 95% of propellant gases and fouling out of the muzzle, allowing the weapon to remain virtually carbon free for hundreds of rounds. Built with a Free Floating Rail System there is no contact between the barrel and Rail system except for at the base of the receiver.

The M27 is an Automatic Rifle and it sets the conditions for small unit movement in a completely different manner than its predecessor, the M-249 Squad Automatic Weapon. The M-249 SAW is a light machinegun that was tasked with filling the role of the automatic rifle. In order to truly understand the subtle, but important doctrinal differences between the two weapons, and where some confusion may have existed, the definitions of each must be examined.

Automatic Rifle - A self-loading, fixed barreled rifle chambered for a rifle cartridge, capable of delivering both semi and fully automatic fire. This select-fire capability, as well as the use of magazine-fed rifle ammunition, differentiates it from a machinegun and submachine gun. Light machinegun- A belt-fed automatic weapon, with a removable barrel, designed to be carried and employed by an individual – with or without an assistant – from a bipod and / or an assault fire posture, in the direct infantry support role.

The “automatic rifleman” equipped with an actual automatic rifle is a proven concept that was first introduced in 1918 and solidified in 1944 when the first similarly equipped and structured 13-man Marine Rifle Squad was authorized.

In July 2005 the United States Marine Corps sought information for a non-developmental, 5.56mm, Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR). The IAR would enable the fire team to rapidly suppress point and area targets of immediate concern. The IAR would replace the infantry’s M249 Squad Automatic Weapons (SAWs) with an automatic rifle easily operable by a single infantry Marine that emphasizes lightweight and portability in order to maximize dismounted maneuverability.

Some attributes include threshold and objective criteria. A threshold criterion is defined as a mandatory requirement and an objective criterion is defined as a desirable (but not mandatory) requirement.

The IAR (excluding the magazine and accessories) shall weigh less than 12.5 pounds empty (Threshold), 10.5 pounds (Objective). The IAR shall fire 5.56 mm ammunition. Interoperability. The IAR shall possess a military standard 1913 rail interface. The IAR shall be capable of a sustained rate of fire of 36 rounds per minute (Threshold), 75 rounds per minute (Objective). (Sustained rate is defined as the rate at which a weapon can fire indefinitely without experiencing a major malfunction such as [but not limited to] a cook-off or a significant degradation in accuracy.)

The IAR shall utilize a magazine with a capacity of 100 rounds (Threshold). The magazine shall permit rapid visual determination of the number of rounds remaining (Objective). The IAR shall accept and function with the current Marine Corps service rifle (the M16A4) 30 round magazines. The IAR shall be capable of both semi-automatic and full automatic firing. The IAR shall possess a robust, detachable, collapsible, and adjustable bipod.

Marine Corps Systems Command (MARCORSYSCOM), Infantry Weapons Systems, Quantico, Virginia announced plans on 19 November 2007 to conduct a limited competition for the second phase (production) of the Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR) project. The goal of this project was to enhance the Automatic Rifleman's maneuverability and displacement speed, while providing the ability to suppress or destroy those targets of most immediate concern to the rifle team. This effort was a direct follow-on to phase one which was a development/demonstration effort conducted by MARCORSYSCOM and contracted through the National Small Arms Center (NSAC). This phase allowed for the provision of prototypes for demonstration and proof of concept testing.

The acquisition objective for the Marine Corps' production effort, which is subject to change, was 4,500 weapons. This acquisition was conducted through limited-competition using FAR procedures and a multi-year, firm-fixed price contract award. The acquisition strategy, as stated in the Request for Project Proposals (RPP) W15QKN-06-R-0253 that was released through the NSAC in March 2006, limited phase two competition to the following vendors that successfully responded to the phase one RPP with a valid proposal: Colt Manufacturing LLC, Fabrique National Herstal, General Dynamics ATP, Heckler & Koch, Knight's Armament Company, and Leitner-Wise Rifle Company.

The Marine Corps Systems Command annnounced Aug 11, 2017 via M67854-17-R-1248 that it intended to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source (FAR 6302.1 (a)(2)(ii)), based on substantial duplication of costs to the Government that are not expected to be recovered through competition and unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency's requirements. The Government intends to solicit and negotiate with Heckler & Koch (H&K), 19980 Highland Vista Drive, #190, Ashburn, VA 20147, for up to 50,814 - M27 Infantry Automatice Rifles (IAR).

In accordance with Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Instruction 5400.15C, Department of the Navy (DoN) Research and Development, Acquisition, Associated Life-Cycle Management, and Logistics Responsibilities and Accountability, dated 02 December 2011, MARCORSYSCOM has the responsibility to centrally manage the procurement of the Infantry Automatic Rifles (IAR). The IAR has been in use in the United States Marine Corps (USMC) since 2010.

The IAR, with bipod and iron sights attached but no magazine or sling, should weigh less than 12.5 pounds. The IAR should measure less than 40 inches in length with the buttstock extended to a Length of Pull of 13.5 inches (or the closest adjustable position greater than 13.5 inches). Length of Pull is defined as the distance between the front of the trigger and the rear of the buttstock.

The IAR should be capable of a rate of fire of 36 rounds per minute for 16 minutes and 40 seconds without a barrel change or risk of cook-off. The system should demonstrate less than 4 Minutes of Angle (MOA) dispersion in semi-automatic fire with MK318 Government ammunition for the life of the barrel. The system should demonstrate less than 8 MOA dispersion in automatic fire when firing a 5-round burst with M855 Government ammunition.

The system should be capable of both semi-automatic and full automatic firing. The system should be employable from the standing, kneeling, sitting and prone positions by an operator wearing the fighting load. The fighting load includes static equipment, personnel protective equipment (PPE), common assault equipment, and billet specific equipment. Static equipment includes the clothing and items typically worn by a Marine during day-to-day activities whether in garrison or combat operations.

This includes camouflage utilities and boots as well as accessories such as a wristwatch. PPE is defined as the equipment that protects, shields or isolates a Marine from chemical, physical (e.g. ballistic threats), and thermal hazards encountered in the conduct of combat operations. PPE specifically includes the following: helmet and night vision base plate, plate carrier, small arms protector insert (SAPI) plates, ballistic eye protection, goggles, and gloves.

Common assault equipment includes items outside of PPE that are carried on one’s person and not in the assault pack. Common assault equipment specifically includes individual first aid kit, pouches (dump, magazine, and grenade), hydration system, and squad radio and headset. Billet specific equipment includes items such as a hand grenade, magazines and ammunition. The fighting load is approximately 60 pounds.

The signatures produced by the system (e.g. thermal bloom, muzzle flash) should not degrade the shooter’s ability to engage targets while using image intensification or thermal night-vision devices. The system should minimize or eliminate the kick-up and blowback of dirt and dust particles toward the operator.

All system external surfaces should have a dull, low-reflective finish (to include pins, bolts, lanyards, sight posts, etc.). The external color of the system should be consistent with current camouflage colors and patterns. The system should not have a more noticeable infrared signature than the M16A4 when viewed by image intensification or thermal night-vision devices. Infrared signature indicates any reflective or emissive properties or patterns which would distinguish the system from an operator wearing the fighting load with Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform (MCCUU).

The IAR should permit the shooter to hold the hand guards with unprotected hands when firing 15 rounds per minute for 20 minutes and until the weapon cools. The system should have a telescoping stock that is adjustable in length, with at least four (4) position stops. The stock should accommodate cheek weld, stock weld, and eye relief for an operator wearing the fighting load. If foldable, the stock should not interfere with the operation of the weapon in any adjusted configuration.

The system should accept and function with all Department of Defense Identification Code (DODIC) 5.56 mm ammunition, including A059 Ball, A060 Dummy, A063 Tracer, A080 Blank, AA33 Ball, AA40 Frangible, AA53 Ball Special Match, AA69 Armor Piercing, and Mk318.

The system should reliably function with all of the current service rifle 30 round magazines (NSNs 1005-01-561-7200, 1005-01-615-5169, 1005-01-659-7086) without the need for adapters or modifications to either the weapon or magazine.

The system should demonstrate 15,000 Mean Rounds Between Essential Function Failure (MRBEFF) for Class III malfunctions (i.e., for non-operator correctable malfunctions which cause the loss of essential functionality) and 900 MRBEFF for Class I and II malfunctions combined. Class I malfunctions are operator clearable within 10 seconds, whereas Class II malfunctions require more than 10 seconds but less than 10 minutes (for 95 percent of all Class II malfunctions that occur) to clear but can be corrected by the operator with available equipment. The system barrel should have a service life of 24,000 rounds minimum with MK318 Government ammunition.

The M249 a gas-operated, belt/magazine-fed, air-cooled, automatic, shoulder-fired light machinegun 5.56mm is a result of a Marine Corps and Army development program to provide combat units with an automatic weapon of extended range and greater accuracy than the Browning automatic rifle. Fabrique Nationale of Herstal, Belgium developed the M249 in 1974 after the Defense Department announced its requirement for a light, automatic weapon to supplement the firepower of the 5.56mm M16A2 rifle.

In the Marine Corps, combat, combat service support, and combat support units as well as Marine Corps security forces use the M249. Previously, in Marine infantry battalions, the M249 was found in each fire team, manned by the automatic rifleman (totaling nine per rifle platoon). With the introduction of the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle, the M249 has since been designated to a more traditional machinegun role, to be employed at the commander’s discretion as a light machinegun.